Question 1

The P waves are the first waves you should look for when analyzing a rhythm strip because:
A)they are usually very regular and thus easy to find.
B)they are the most important for diagnosing heart disease.
C)they always have a constant relationship with the waves around them.
D)they are the biggest and thus most visible.

Accepted Answer

P waves are usually very regular and are the first deflection in the cardiac cycle, making them easier to identify when analyzing a rhythm strip.

Question 2

When a P wave originates in the SA node, it is expected to be smooth, rounded, and in Lead II.
A)upright
B)inverted
C)biphasic
D)notched

Accepted Answer

A P wave originating in the SA node should be upright in Lead II because it is traveling in the normal direction of depolarization through the atria.

Question 3

The cardiac activity that takes place above the ventricles is referred to as _ activity.
A)infraventricular
B)supraventricular
C)AV nodal
D)precipitating

Accepted Answer

Supraventricular activity refers to cardiac activity that occurs above the ventricles, which includes activity in the atria and AV node. Infraventricular activity refers to cardiac activity that occurs in the ventricles. AV nodal activity specifically refers to the electrical activity that occurs in the AV node. Precipitating is not a term used to describe cardiac activity.

Question 4

A Normal Sinus Rhythm should have a QRS of less than sec.
A)0.12
B)0.22
C)0.18
D)0.20

Accepted Answer

A Normal Sinus Rhythm should have a QRS of less than 0.12 sec.

Question 5

P waves usually appear before:
A)T waves.
B)upright waves.
C)PR intervals.
D)QRS complexes.

Accepted Answer

P waves are the initial electrical signal of the heart's contraction, followed by the QRS complex, representing the ventricular contraction. Therefore, P waves appear before QRS complexes.

Question 6

The QRS complex is indicative of ventricular and thus should correspond to the patient's pulse.
A)irritability
B)depolarization
C)recovery
D)failure

Accepted Answer

The QRS complex corresponds to ventricular depolarization, which is the electrical activity that precedes a contraction of the ventricles. This contraction should result in a corresponding pulse. A, C, and D are not directly related to the QRS complex or pulse.

Question 7

The heart's normal rhythm usually originates in the:
A)AV node.
B)SA node.
C)ventricle.
D)atria.

Accepted Answer

The normal rhythm of the heart originates in the SA (sinoatrial) node, which is located in the right atrium.

Question 8

A rhythm that is "regularly irregular" would describe a rhythm that:
A)is irregular sometimes but not others.
B)is chaotic in its irregularity.
C)is consistently irregular every time you see it.
D)has a pattern to its irregularity.

Accepted Answer

A rhythm that is "regularly irregular" would have a pattern to its irregularity, meaning that there is a consistent irregularity that can be recognized and predicted.

Question 9

A major EKG finding that can help you distinguish between supraventricular and ventricular rhythms is the width of the:
A)P- P interval.
B)QRS complex.
C)T wave.
D)P wave.

Accepted Answer

The width of the QRS complex is the major EKG finding that can help distinguish between supraventricular and ventricular rhythms. In supraventricular rhythms, the QRS complex is usually narrow (less than 0.12 seconds) due to the initial activation of the ventricles via the normal conduction system. In contrast, ventricular rhythms have wide QRS complexes (greater than 0.12 seconds) as the ventricles are activated via the slower myocardial conduction system.

Question 10

If a QRS complex measures less than 0.12 sec., you know that it did NOT originate in the:
A)SA node.
B)AV junction.
C)atria.
D)ventricles.

Accepted Answer

The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization. A QRS duration of less than 0.12 seconds (or 120 milliseconds) indicates that the electrical impulse originated above the ventricles, such as in the SA node, AV junction, or atria, and not in the ventricles themselves. Ventricular-originated impulses typically result in a wider QRS complex due to the slower conduction through the ventricular muscle.

Question 11

To find out if a rhythm is regular or irregular, measure the across the entire strip.
A)QRS complexes
B)PR intervals
C)R- R intervals
D)PR segments

Accepted Answer

To determine if a rhythm is regular or irregular, you need to measure the distance between the R waves (or R-R intervals) across the entire strip. If these intervals are consistent, the rhythm is regular, and if they vary in length, the rhythm is irregular. Measuring QRS complexes, PR intervals, or PR segments may be important for other aspects of the ECG interpretation, but they do not provide information about the regularity of the rhythm.

Question 12

If a rhythm is regular, the MOST accurate way to calculate heart rate is to count the number of small squares between two R waves and divide the total into:
A)1300.
B)60.
C)1500.
D)150.

Accepted Answer

The most accurate way to calculate heart rate for a regular rhythm is to count the number of small squares between two R waves on an ECG and divide that number into 1500. This method is based on the fact that there are 1500 small squares in a minute on a standard ECG, assuming a paper speed of 25 mm/sec.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes a "lost" P wave?
A)One that is visible but highly irregular.
B)One that is obscured because it falls on other waves.
C)One that is there one minute but gone the next.
D)One that can't be counted because it happens too quickly.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following best describes a...

Question 14

Which part of the conduction system has the slowest conduction speed, and is thus responsible for slowing down impulses until the heart is ready to receive them?
A)SA node
B)AV node
C)ventricles
D)atria

Accepted Answer

The AV node has the slowest conduction speed among the conduction system, which is necessary for ensuring the proper coordination of atrial and ventricular contractions. This delay allows the atria to contract fully before the ventricles receive the signal to contract.

Question 15

If a rhythm is IRREGULAR, the best way to determine rate is to:
A)count the number of large squares between two R waves and divide that into 300.
B)use a rate meter.
C)count the number of QRS complexes in a 6- sec.strip and multiply by 10.
D)count the number of small squares between two R waves and divide that into 1500.

Accepted Answer

Counting the number of QRS complexes in a 6-sec strip and multiplying by 10 is the best way to determine rate in an irregular rhythm because it accounts for the variability between R waves. Counting large or small squares assumes a regular rhythm, and a rate meter may not accurately detect the rate in an irregular rhythm.

Question 16

The standard systematic approach to arrhythmia interpretation consists of all of the following EXCEPT:
A)P waves and PR interval.
B)QRS complex.
C)refractory periods.
D)heart rate and rhythm.

Accepted Answer

Refractory periods are not typically included in the standard systematic approach to arrhythmia interpretation. The other choices, P waves and PR interval, QRS complex, and heart rate and rhythm, are all important components of arrhythmia interpretation.

Question 17

Which of the following is the LEAST accurate way to determine heart rate?
A)Count the number of large squares between two R waves and divide that into 300.
B)Use a rate meter.
C)Count the number of QRS complexes in a 6- sec.strip and multiply by 10.
D)Count the number of small squares between two R waves and divide that into 1500.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is the LEAST...

Quiz 3: Analyzing Ekg Rhythm Strips

The P waves are the first waves you should look for when analyzing a rhythm strip because:

When a P wave originates in the SA node, it is expected to be smooth, rounded, and in Lead II.

The cardiac activity that takes place above the ventricles is referred to as _ activity.

A Normal Sinus Rhythm should have a QRS of less than sec.

P waves usually appear before:

The QRS complex is indicative of ventricular and thus should correspond to the patient's pulse.

The heart's normal rhythm usually originates in the:

A rhythm that is "regularly irregular" would describe a rhythm that:

A major EKG finding that can help you distinguish between supraventricular and ventricular rhythms is the width of the:

If a QRS complex measures less than 0.12 sec., you know that it did NOT originate in the:

To find out if a rhythm is regular or irregular, measure the across the entire strip.

If a rhythm is regular, the MOST accurate way to calculate heart rate is to count the number of small squares between two R waves and divide the total into:

Which of the following best describes a "lost" P wave?

Which part of the conduction system has the slowest conduction speed, and is thus responsible for slowing down impulses until the heart is ready to receive them?

If a rhythm is IRREGULAR, the best way to determine rate is to:

The standard systematic approach to arrhythmia interpretation consists of all of the following EXCEPT:

Which of the following is the LEAST accurate way to determine heart rate?